Ex-Gov. William Weld says no to Massachusetts Senate run

Former Massachusetts Republican Gov. Bill Weld announced Monday that he will not run for Senate in the June special election.

Republicans are striking out so far finding a well-known candidate in the Bay State: After former Sen. Scott Brown took a pass on Friday, former state Senate Minority Leader Richard Tisei said Saturday that he too would sit it out.

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“While I am grateful for the kind expressions of support and encouragement which I have received, I will not be a candidate for United States Senator from Massachusetts in the special election this year,” Weld said in a one-sentence statement released by the law firm where he works.

Some speculated that Weld, 67, might have his eye on another run for office after he moved back to Massachusetts from New York last year.

Weld served two terms on Beacon Hill in the 1990s, but he lost by 8 points to John Kerry when he challenged him for Senate in 1996.

Weld ran unsuccessfully for governor of New York in 2006.

Other Republicans who might still run for the Senate nomination are former Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey and Gabriel Gomez, a former Navy SEAL who works in finance.

The Boston Herald reported Monday that Tagg Romney, Mitt’s 42-year-old son, is considering a run. This seems unlikely in the wake of the elder Romney, who used to be governor, losing the state to President Barack Obama by 23 points in November.

As more Republicans take a pass, attention increasingly turns to the Democratic nomination. Reps. Ed Markey and Stephen Lynch will face off in an April 30 primary. The special election is June 25.

Democrat Mo Cowan was appointed last week to serve as interim senator. Gov. Deval Patrick’s former chief of staff came from the same law firm, Mintz Levin, where Weld works now.